What is a fisherman to do when he catches a mermaid in his net? Let her go—or fall in love?
A Regency Romance
Cornwall, 1815
As a well-respected fisherman in the Cornish seas, Trevik Honeysett provides a living for many poor families in the southwest of Cornwall. Despite the most powerful fishing companies attempting to cut off his own ability to fish, Trevik refuses to give up. However, when he discovers a mysterious, injured woman entangled in his net, things become much more complicated—especially when suspicions arise that she is, in fact, a mermaid. Knowing he might very well lose his workers to their superstitious beliefs, Trevik decides to uncover just who the woman is. The only problem is…she can’t remember.
In truth, Morvoren Hollow knows exactly who she is. She merely needs to keep her identity a secret long enough to accomplish what she’d set off to do. Fortunately, pretending to be a mermaid will keep Society away long enough to do just that. Her lie becomes harder to manage, however, as her injury takes longer to heal—and as the nosy but handsome fisherman reels closer to the truth.
The two clash head-to-head as Trevik refuses to believe Morvoren is actually a siren from the sea. But such a thing would be easier to imagine than what he finally discovers about her past. Fearful of what might happen next, Morvoren must decide her next step. She can either learn to trust again—or end up truly alone.
My Review:
published in 2022
This is the kind of story that carries a reader into a fictional world to such an extent that you feel like you’ve time travelled. The way Hathaway captures the essence of time and place is phenomenal. Descriptive storytelling that doesn’t overburden the plot but leaves an indelible impression on the reader. I swear I could hear the waves crashing on the shore and smell the tangy sea air while I listened to ‘In the Waves of Tristwick.’
(Excellent performance by narrator Vicki-Jo Eva, by the way. She delivered on accent and dialect and portrayed a vast number of characters from all walks of life with convincing zest. I was enthralled.)
The author captures the Cornish culture and folklore in such a captivating way. Morvoren’s dramatic rescue from the sea stirs up old legends and stubborn superstitions and it isn’t long before half of the community is convinced she actually is a mermaid. For her part, Morvoren embraces the myth as the perfect guise to hide her true identity so she can remain hidden from her uncle.
Of course, Trevik doesn’t hold with such nonsense and is suspicious of Morvoren’s true intentions and the conflict she has created among the fishermen.. Their bickering banter is pure delight as the enemies to more trope plays out to perfection in a slow-burn kind of romance full of conflicting emotions.
Rich history, sea faring lore and engaging characters all combine to deliver a charming Regency romance with a unique twist.
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
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If you would like a chance to win a copy of In the Waves of Tristwick, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 24 2026.
